The only road in the world that closes biannually for snake migration is in Union County, within the Shawnee National Forest. The aptly named Snake Road is located between bluffs and wetlands, making it the perfect spot for migrating reptiles and amphibians. Every spring and fall, the Forest Service closes the road to vehicle traffic. Locals and visitors alike flock to the road to witness this migration. Beginning in 2022, Illinois Extension partnered with the Forest Service to develop the Snake Road Sentinel program, a community science program. Master Naturalists receive training and then walk the road, taking social science data from visitors as well as recording data on the snakes they see.
Learn more about the Master Naturalists in Union County.
